Improvement in machinery for handling logs in saw-mills



, y WITNESSES 1 .'2SheetswSheeH. EDWARD H. STEARNS.

Improvement in vMachinery'for handling logs in Saw-Mills.

No. 121,299, Patemednov.za,187t.

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Improvement in Machinery for handling logs in Saw-Mills.

2 Sheets-fSheet 2.

Patented Nov. 28. |871.

UNITED STATES PATENT QFFICE.

EDWARD H. STEARNS, OF ERIE, PENNSYLVANIA.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 121,299, dated November 28, 1871.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWARD H. STEARNS, of Erie, in the county of Erie and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain Improved Machinery for Handling Logs in Saw-Mills, of which the following is a specification:

The invention relates to an arrangement of jack-ways for handling and delivering logs in saw-mills; and it consists in the construction and arrangement ofthe operating devices, wherebya log is drawn longitudinally to the mill and is then delivered laterally upon the log-carriage, as is more fully hereinafter described.

Figure I represents an end view of a frame in which are supported and shown my improvements. Fig. II is a side view of same, showing the fiat-link, riveted, endless chain. Fig. 11g` is an edge view of the sheave. Fig. III is a top view of the chain, and Fig. IV is a side view of said chain and the jack-way sloped down to the ground or water, with an idle-sheave in the lower end for the endless chain to pass over. Fig. V is a top view of the wide chain, and Fig. VI is a like view of the wide sheave to work the same.

The frame, composed of the parts A A A A and B, is fully shown in Fig. 1. C is one of the head-blocks; Q, one of the knees; and Bf, a longitudinal section of one of the grooved trackways 5 and B" represents the side of a horizontal lateral log-roll way for delivering a log upon the carriage. In each end of this track-way areidlesheaves d d, over which pass the endless chains J2 J2, which also pass over the working-sheave Ml M', which may in turn be revolved by the shaft J 5 or the motion may be givenin any other suitable manner. The grooves spoken of may be, say, a half inch in depth, of bars cast of proper form, and fastened upon the wood of the track-ways; or the track-ways may be without grooves. The use of the track-ways B is to furnish suitable bearings for the endless chains while they carry the log laterally from the jackways B B', where logs are received from the jack-ways, or where cants are received from another sawing-machine or lumber-carrier to the carriage C, and furthermore, by means of a downward slope of the track-ways, commencing a short distance from the head-blocks, to induce the log by its own weight to roll upon them. The forms of the track-ways must be varied according to circumstances; and if, therefore, the

lateral jack-way B B lshould be lower than the head-block C, then the form of track-ways should be made to rise gradually upon approaching the head-block, as shown by the dotted line B2, so as to elevate the chain above it, and then make a descent, down which the log will roll of itself. The jack-way should have a lateral slope toward the carriage, so 'that the log, when drawn up and upon it, shall of itself roll down upon the chains, and be by them carried to the downward slopes of the track-ways, and thence roll by its own weight upon the carriage, thus almost wholly 4 avoiding manual labor in removing the log from the ground or water up and upon the saw-carriage. When it may be desired to work these chains in connection with a log-turning machine, and by the same power, one friction-wheel, K, will operate both, as in practice they are not required to operate at the same time. The friction-pulley l receives constant motion from the band-wheel M, and, having its bearings in a swinging frame, it may be thrown in contact either with pulley K to work the chains, or with friction-pulley K to operate the log-turner. The pinion L upon the shaft of the wheel K gives motion to the idle-wheel L1, which in turn drives thedspur-wheel L2, which carries the sheaves. The idle-wheel L1 is employed to reverse the movement when driving om the same frictionwheel which operates the log-turner, and is not necessary when this machinery is not connected with a log-turner, in which case the pinion L will mesh directly with the spur-wheel L2. The chains remain at rest except when the logs have to be moved laterally to the carriage, the shaft of work v ing-sheaves Ml M toward the frame, and by a slide slope of the horizontal part of the jack-way toward the carriage the log of itself rolls upon the chains J2 J2. The wide strong chain shown in Fig. V, in combination with the wide sheave shown in Fig. VI, worked together, may be used in combination with either of the track-ways, and also with the jack-way, wherever great strength is required. It will be observed that in making the large chain shown in Fig. V the two plates making one narrow link are made equal in thickness to the three composing the wider links. 4

I am aware that chains have been used for conveying cants and partially-sawed timber from one mill to another for resawing, and I do not (both having the same construction as J2 and N) and the jack-Way Bf, having the idle pulleys M and Working-sheave M, with the track-Ways B B and chains J2, constructed and arranged substantially as and for the purpose described.

E. H. STEARNS.

Witnesses:

A. M. SToU'r, Sr.,

ALEX. M. STOUT, Jr. (130) 

